Salotto 2024: supporting SMES for a more competitive Italy

Milan, December 11 – Facilitating dialogue between institutions and industry on the themes of digital development in Italy, as well as fostering networking among players in the supply chain: these were the goals of the 18th edition of Salotto, the annual event promoted by MIX – Milan Internet eXchange, held on December 10 and 11 at the Allianz MiCo Convention Center in Milan. Over 1,500 participants, representing more than 500 companies in the sector, engaged in discussions on topics such as infrastructure, competitiveness, and AI.

“During Salotto 2024, the pivotal role of the telecommunications sector emerged as a driver of competitiveness, supporting other industries that require digital tools to grow. The supply chain called on institutions to provide a response to incentivize innovation investments, thereby contributing to the creation of a more competitive Italy. This should begin with an analysis of the Italian economic fabric, which does not need national champions but rather a system to support the many small and medium-sized enterprises that underpin the global recognition of Made in Italy,” emphasized Alessandro Talotta, Executive President & Chairman of MIX.

The first day began with the MIXCOOL session, attended by over 350 high school students specializing in IT. They had the opportunity to learn firsthand about the world of Internet Exchanges and the latest innovations in the data center sector, presented directly by leading companies in the field.

During the opening panel of Salotto, an important partnership with AMS-IX, the Dutch Internet Exchange and one of the most virtuous players in the global Internet landscape, was announced. This partnership aims to create a potential European peering platform with 1,200 interconnected networks.

Two key panels brought together institutions and industry representatives:

• “Data Centers in Italy: Opportunities, Challenges, and Issues in a Growing Market”, featuring Giulia Pastorella (Member of the IX Transport Commission, Chamber of Deputies; Vice President of Azione), Layla Pavone (Coordinator of the Board for Technological Innovation and Digital Transition, Municipality of Milan), Alessandro Piva (Director of the Data Center Observatory, Politecnico di Milano), Giorgio Maria Tosi Beleffi (Executive, Minister’s Office, Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy), along with industry representatives Stefano Mazzitelli (Director of Business Market, Open Fiber), Renzo Ravaglia (CEO and Co-Founder, FibreConnect), and Ruggero Slongo (Chief Operating Officer, Retelit).
• “Italy’s Challenges: Greater Digitalization to Support Competitiveness”, featuring Alessandro Morelli (Undersecretary of State for Economic Policy Coordination and Public Investment Planning), Vinicio Peluffo (Member of the Commission for Productive Activities, Chamber of Deputies), and Patrizia Catenacci (Director General for Digital and Telecommunications, Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy), as well as industry representatives Guido Garrone (CEO, Eolo) and Marco Padula (Sales Director, BT Italia).

During the two-day event, 15 parallel technical sessions were held, alongside hundreds of one-to-one meetings. The doubling of sponsor participation, representing the entire Telco supply chain, confirms Salotto as the key B2B event for industry operators.